12 March 2016

Uruguay is home to birds. Uruguay was named after the Uruguay River, which meant in Guarani, the native people’s language, “A river where colored birds inhabit”.

Uruguay is the best country for bird-watching.

There are 9 bird-watching sites found along the coastline and 11 such sites inland. Near these sites are hotels, restaurants, and Estancias (farms and ranches) ready to welcome tourists and visitors.

As the birds you may encounter vary place to place, it is advisable to check the information in advance: the families of herons are seen in the eastern wetland; the families of sea gulls are at the mouth of rivers and brooks; the families of ibises and crows are in the northern ravines; thrushes and tanagers are in the forests; and lesser rheas, the biggest birds seen in South America, and harriers are in the grasslands.
Although most migratory birds come flying from September through March, bird-watching is a year-round leisure since vermillion flycatchers and frigate birds come flying in spring, and Magellan penguins, albatrosses and petrels come flying in winter.

The lake Rocha is famous for allowing you to watch black-necked swans and flamingos. You can even find nests of ovenbirds on the electric poles and roofs in the urban district. Let’s look for them when you do not go to the sanctuaries for bird-watching.

Uruguay is the best country for bird-watching, where more than 440 kinds of wild birds live.